New human beta-transducin repeat containing protein and its fragments useful as, or to screen for, antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory and anti-Alzheimer agents

摘要

Human protein beta TrcP (I; beta-transducin repeats containing protein), for directing proteins to the proteosome degradation pathways, has a 569 amino acid (aa) sequence (2), given in the specification. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) peptide fragments (Ia) of (I), formed by addition, deletion and/or substitution of one or more aa, and retaining ability to interact with the Vpu protein of human immune deficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), cellular proteins IkappaB or beta -catenin (bC) and/or protein Skp1p; (2) nucleic acid (II) encoding (I) or (Ia); (3) anti-HIV agents comprising (Ia) lacking either the F box or the WD motifs; (4) antibodies (Ab) directed against (I) or (Ia); (5) antisense oligonucleotides that block transcription or translation of (I) by hybridization; (6) antitumor agents comprising (Ia) that retain both F box and WD motifs; (7) anti-inflammatory agents comprising (Ia) that lack the F box; (8) transgenic animals that: (a) express the transgene for (I); or (b) have the endogenous gene for beta TrcP inactivated; (9) expression vectors containing (II); and (10) microorganisms or transformed cells containing this vector and optionally also a vector that expresses one of Vpu, IkappaB, Skp1p or bC.